Sorry for not posting for almost 2 weeks, I had some important matters + I was really sick I just started healing and getting better hope u understand.... Enjoy today's chapters... And don't forget Please I need ur support on patreon thanks to all the ones who support me here and there.
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The following morning, when Rover returned to the garden, he found Cartethyia already there, quietly gazing at the tender green shoots that had just broken through the soil.
"Oh! You're here." Cartethyia looked up, pleasantly surprised, before a faint look of regret crossed her face. "It is a pity the irises haven't bloomed yet."
She crouched down, gently brushing a finger against a newly sprouted leaf. A sudden thought struck her. "Speaking of which... doesn't Jinzhou's Sentinel, Jué, possess the power of time? If we borrowed its power, would the growth cycle of these flowers speed up?"
Rover couldn't help but laugh. "I think that would technically count as breaking the laws of nature."
Cartethyia smiled. "True. Planting them by hand and waiting patiently makes the moment they finally bloom much more meaningful."
A brief silence fell between them before she seemed to remember something else, seamlessly shifting the topic. "Right, you mentioned the Magistrate of Jinzhou to me before... I believe her name is Jinhsi, correct?"
"Yes," Rover nodded. "Why? Do you want to meet her?"
"Mhm." Cartethyia gave a serious nod, her eyes brimming with curiosity and admiration. "I am incredibly curious to see how a girl so young can shoulder the immense responsibility of governing an entire state... She sounds truly remarkable. I would love to see her with my own eyes."
Rover looked at her sparkling eyes and thought for a moment before an idea took shape.
"...That can be arranged," he said. "Your current stage of treatment just wrapped up, and you're entering an observation period anyway. Rather than just sitting around the Black Shores waiting, you might as well take a trip to Jinzhou with me to relax. Consider it a recuperation vacation."
He paused, a hint of nostalgia softening his voice. "Besides, it's been a while since I last saw Jinhsi and Changli."
"Ah! Is that really alright?!" Cartethyia's icy blue eyes instantly lit up with radiant joy.
Rover gave a confirming nod. "Of course. Go pack your things; we can head out tomorrow."
"Understood!" Cartethyia nodded vigorously, her joy overflowing. However, she quickly reeled herself back to the present. Pointing at the watering can beside her, a playful, challenging gleam appeared in her eyes. "Then it's a promise! By the way, before we leave, do you want to grab a watering can and help out? Let us see whose watering technique is superior!"
As if suddenly recalling a crucial detail, she quickly adopted a serious tone. "Oh, right, I must warn you—when watering flowers, you have to watch your step. Some of the seeds have only just sprouted, so they are incredibly fragile. Water temperature is also vital; it cannot be too cold..."
Watching her launch into a deadly serious lecture on gardening, Rover couldn't hold back a chuckle. "We're turning this into a competition too?"
"Since I told you I planned to surpass you," Cartethyia lifted her chin, displaying a rare blend of youthful competitiveness and endearing stubbornness, "we might as well start with the small things!"
On the other side of the Black Shores.
Ding—
Camellya's personal terminal chimed with a notification.
Basking lazily in the sun on her terrace, she stretched her arms before casually opening the terminal. It was a formal administrative reply from The Shorekeeper.
[Sender: The Shorekeeper]
[Subject: Reply to Funding Application for "Advanced Floral Cultivation and Landscape Optimization Project"]
[Content: Floramancer Camellya, your application has been reviewed. Upon assessment, the project lacks sufficient necessity, and the proposed budget's rationality is questionable. Application Denied. Please focus on compiling your recent human resources reports. — The Shorekeeper]
"Hah?!" Camellya instantly sat bolt upright, her pretty eyebrows knitting together. "Denied?! On what grounds?! What's wrong with me wanting to open a new camellia flowerbed over there?! So stingy!"
Puffing her cheeks angrily, she immediately dialed The Shorekeeper's comms. The call connected instantly, revealing the same placid, emotionless face on the screen.
"Shorekeeper! How can you go back on your word like this?! That plot of land is just sitting completely empty anyway!" Camellya complained loudly. "I'm telling you, this isn't even about the money anymore. This is a crisis of trust—"
The Shorekeeper looked at her, her tone perfectly flat. "Camellya, the reasons for rejection have already been stated. Furthermore, the area you applied to develop is no longer available. Miss Cartethyia has already planted irises there and obtained official authorization. It is no longer suitable for your camellia project."
"Cartethyia?" Camellya froze, her annoyance instantly spiking. "When did she plant them?! Why didn't I know about this?! On whose authority—"
"According to the logs, it was authorized one day ago by the Supreme Leader of the Black Shores," The Shorekeeper added calmly.
Camellya: "..."
She abruptly cut the connection. A visceral feeling of having her home turf stolen flared up inside her.
She immediately jumped to her feet and stormed toward the small garden she had her eyes on.
Sure enough, in the exact sunny, highly visible plot she had scoped out for herself, the once-empty soil was now occupied by a neat row of freshly sprouting iris seedlings.
The blocky-headed gardening robot, Ku-Jiaojiao, was diligently hovering nearby on patrol.
"Ku-Jiaojiao!" Camellya yelled, marching over. "What is the meaning of these flowers?! Who permitted them to be planted here?!"
Ku-Jiaojiao turned around, its digital expression flickering briefly. "Identity acknowledged: Floramancer Camellya. Answering your query: Planter of this flowerbed: Miss Cartethyia. Planting Authorization granted by: Supreme Administrator. Species: Iris Flower. Status: Registered in the management directory and protected by the system."
Camellya choked on her words. She felt a lump of pure frustration lodge in her throat, with absolutely nowhere to vent it.
Glaring at the area, she suddenly noticed a small wooden sign planted in the center of the flowerbed. There was writing on it.
She walked over and read the neat, elegant handwriting:
"Sister Camellya, while the Righteous One and I are away, could you please help look after these irises? They are very delicate and require careful attention. Thank you so much! — Cartethyia"
Holding the small wooden sign, the intense dissatisfaction and anger on Camellya's face slowly froze, eventually morphing into an incredibly complex expression.
Help look after them? While she and MY Supreme Leader are away?!
This little blonde knight... Right before leaving, not only did she hijack the exact plot of land Camellya wanted, but she also left a message like this?
It looked like a polite request, but in reality, it was a blatant, unapologetic declaration of sovereignty.
Camellya narrowed her eyes. She looked at the handwriting, then down at the seedlings at her feet. Suddenly, she let out a sharp scoff and shook her head.
"Heh... I really underestimated you." She muttered under her breath, her tone completely devoid of its previous anger. "Looking all innocent and harmless... who would've thought you actually had it in you..."
She suddenly realized that the Laguna girl Rover had brought back wasn't nearly as naive or clueless as she appeared.
This subconscious—or perhaps incredibly deliberate—display of territorial possessiveness actually sparked a genuine trace of interest in Camellya.
She shoved the wooden sign back into the dirt, crossed her arms, and stared down at the iris seedlings, a dangerous, playful smirk curling her lips.
"Interesting."
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